Health care in times of uncertainty: Poland's system must run "like clockwork"

On Thursday, during the opening session of the 10th Health Challenges Congress, Deputy Health Minister Katarzyna Kacperczyk was asked whether, in today's situation, when everyone is focused on the issues of the heightened geopolitical situation, uncertainty about the direction of U.S. policy and the state of the war in Ukraine, there is still any space at all to deal with changes in the health care system, among other reforms planned by the ministry.

- Indeed, as I'm sure we all know and observe, we are living in a very special time full of unpredictability, and as I'm sure we're all aware, this is not a temporary time, and we will probably come to live with this uncertainty and unpredictability for many years to come," the deputy head of the health ministry admitted, adding that following the mainstream public discussion, one might have the impression that apart from defense issues, all other, even important, matters are receding into the background. - But this is a rather misleading notion, because in fact (...) the area of health has become as important as it has probably not been in the history of our country, I don't want to say the history of Europe," she said, referring to a recorded statement by Izabela Leszczyna, who appealed to all participants in the congress and all entities that make up the health care system to cooperate and engage in the process of the proposed changes.

At the same time, Katarzyna Kacperczyk stressed that Poland also needs to create a better-organized system that will work in predictable times, but will allow to respond in crisis situations - whether it is a pandemic, conflicts or other natural disasters. - Indeed, the system must run like clockwork, safeguarding the needs of patients and for times of stability, but also preparing for times of unrest and unpredictability," she said. The same point was made on the second day of the conference by Deputy Health Minister Wojciech Konieczny, who assessed that at the moment we are focusing on a system built for a time of peaceful prosperity, meanwhile we are living, he stressed, in "pre-war" times. - This does not have to be realized, but it is necessary to prepare that difficult times are coming, he explained. This means that it is necessary to ensure not only the ability of health care entities to operate on an ongoing basis, but also to create conditions in which they can prepare "safety cushions" that would allow them to work at higher speeds, should the need arise. This, Konieczny stressed, we will not be able to achieve without higher health expenditures.